Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his visit  to Andhra Pradesh for the first time since the TDP-led NDA formed the government in the State. His visit, focused on driving sustainable growth and infrastructure development, places particular emphasis on the northern region of the State.

During his tour of Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several significant projects with a combined worth exceeding ₹2 lakh crore. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also joined the event in the Port City on Wednesday afternoon.

"It was after a gap of 60 years, with the blessings of the people, a Union Government was elected for the third time in a row in the country," he said, adding that officially, it was his first programme in Andhra Pradesh after the formation of the government.

As part of his vision for advancing green energy and sustainable initiatives, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for NTPC Green Energy Limited’s (NGEL) Green Hydrogen Hub. This landmark project, to be established at Pudimadaka in Atchutapuram mandal of Anakapalle district, marks a significant step towards promoting renewable energy solutions in the region.

“Our Andhra Pradesh is a state of possibilities and opportunities”, the Prime minister said.

Developed under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the NTPC Green Energy Limited’s Green Hydrogen Hub represents a landmark initiative with an investment of ₹1.85 lakh crore. The project aims to establish a renewable energy capacity of 20 gigawatts to produce 1,500 tonnes of green hydrogen per day. Additionally, it will manufacture 7,500 tonnes of green hydrogen derivatives, such as green methanol, green urea, and sustainable aviation fuel, primarily targeting export markets. This aligns with India’s ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.

Highlighting that Andhra Pradesh, due to its innovative nature, is a significant hub for IT and technology, the Prime Minister remarked, "It is now time for Andhra Pradesh to become a centre for futuristic technologies”.

In addition to this milestone in green energy, the Prime Minister launched a series of road and railway infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh, collectively valued at ₹19,500 crore. Among these is the foundation stone for the South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR) headquarters in Visakhapatnam, addressing a long-pending demand under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. With an investment of ₹149 crore, the SCoR project is expected to enhance regional connectivity and drive economic growth.

Furthering the State’s industrial development, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a bulk drug park at Nakkapalli in Anakapalle district. Positioned strategically near the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) and the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Petrochemical and Investment Region, the project involves an investment of ₹1,438.89 crore. It is anticipated to create thousands of jobs and significantly boost industrial activity in the region.

The Prime Minister virtually laid the foundation stone for the Krishnapatnam Industrial Area (KRIS City) in Tirupati district, under the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor. Designed as a greenfield smart industrial city, this ambitious project is projected to attract investments of ₹10,500 crore and generate nearly one lakh direct and indirect jobs.

The grand public meeting by the Prime Minister Modi was attended by over 1.8 lakh people at the Andhra University Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam.

The Prime Minister arrived at INS Dega at 4:15 PM on Wednesday. His roadshow began at 4:45 PM, starting from the Venkatadri Vantillu restaurant area in Siripuram and concluded at the AU Engineering College Grounds. Following the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremonies, the Prime Minister addressed the gathering. He departed from the venue to Bhubaneswar thereafter.